Adopt a New Approach for Highway Revenue

Time was when I felt kindly toward Adopt-a-Highway signs. They were a low-tech, homespun recognition of small citizen groups or a family doing their part. I imagined the kids, maybe the whole family, picking up litter on weekends. But what was once cute is now an emerging cultural disaster, with the usual corporations invading our every roadway with their advertising.

On the Santa Monica Freeway near the Crenshaw Boulevard exit, I count seven of these "Adopt-a's" within just one mile: Adopt-a-Wall, Adopt-a-Wildflower, Adopt-a-Graffiti-Removal, etc. Driving to Santa Barbara on the Ventura Freeway, every two miles there's an "Adopt-a." There are even "Adopt-a's" in Death Valley National Park. We need to stop this invasion. Our state government is selling our beautiful West to make a few bucks.

It really just needs to know that we think more of our state's beauty than as a background for Adopt-a-Highway signs.